THOUSANDS of Scots holidaymakers face days of chaos after a French strike forced airlines to cancel hundreds of European flights.

Passengers on budget carriers easyJet and Ryanair were the worst hit with 750 flights already axed.

French unions called off the strike last night after thousands of passengers were disrupted over the past two days.

Budget airline Ryanair said on their website last night they had been advised that the strike was cancelled with effect from midnight.

The airline said: “All Ryanair scheduled flights on Thursday will operate as normal.

“All booked customers should proceed to the departure airport as normal.”

The strike over planned cuts had been due to continue into the weekend.

It ended after talks because the French government recognised the “importance of investment in the sector,” French news agency AFP quoted the Unsa-ICNA union as saying.

Belgian air traffic controllers also went on strike for two hours yesterday with a further strike planned between 2am and 4am today.

The knock-on effect of the French strike could be felt for days and with Scottish schools set to break up for the holidays this weekend is traditionally the busiest for Scottish airports.

Yesterday easyJet said they had scrapped 300 flights since Tuesday’s strike with half affecting UK passengers.

Slamming the strike as “unnecessary” easyJet apologised and said it was “extremely disappointed that our passengers have been affected”.

Ryanair were forced to cancel 450 flights because of the strike, and those who still had a flight faced delays of up to six hours.

Mum-of-one Maria McKinney and her family were caught up in the mayhem this week as she travelled to an aunt’s wedding in Italy.

Maria, 37, from Glasgow, said: “It has been a nightmare.

“We were due to fly from Glasgow to Verona but that was cancelled so we have to rebook a flight leaving from Edinburgh.

Gary Ross, back right, wife Joanne, his father-in-law George Rooney and sons Karson and Kai were held up at Edinburgh Airport

“My mum and dad, my two-year-old son and his 12-year-old cousin are all travelling so we have to spend an extra £1000 to sort out the flights. The kids just want to get there.”

Pupils and teachers heading to Germany for a history trip were caught up in the chaos on Tuesday when their flight was cancelled.

Shirley Robertson’s 15-year-old daughter was due to fly out to Munich with her pals.

Shirley, 45, from Airdrie, said: “Three teachers and 19 pupils from Airdrie Academy were due to fly to Munich but the flight was cancelled because of the French strike.

“The weepy, gutted teenagers along with their teachers made their way back to the school to be picked up by parents.

Passengers delayed at Stansted Airport

“The kids were all hyper as the trip approached. They were inconsolable when they realised they weren’t going. They are going to try to re-book for September.”

Travel association Abta urged people planing a trip to check with their airline. A spokesman said: “If your flight is cancelled you will be allowed the option to rebook or have a full refund.

“Emergency plans have also been drawn up to reroute flights to other countries which would normally fly over France. This may add to the length of flights.”

Glasgow and Edinburgh airport were hit with delays of up to two-and-a-half hours yesterday.

Four flights to Alicante and Malaga from Edinburgh were cancelled.

International Air Transport Association and chief executive Tony Tyler slammed the strike.

He said: “Unions bent on stopping progress are putting at risk the hard-earned vacations of millions of travellers, and from the public’s perspective.

“In additional to vacationers, business people undertaking important trips, and those awaiting urgent shipments all faced hassles and uncertain waits as flights were cancelled, delayed or diverted around a major portion of European airspace.

“It is indefensible that France’s air traffic controllers went on strike in order to perpetuate travel delays in Europe.”